December in Ghana is Alive — Creatives say the issue is amplification, not activity

As public criticism grows over claims that December in Ghana has declined, creatives and industry stakeholders suggest that the festive season remains alive and is expanding in scope and activity.

This was the focus of the Y Holiday Havoc Convo, a special December segment initiated by YFM Ghana as part of its flagship Y Holiday Havoc campaign. The conversation aired on the station’s Myd Morning Show and was hosted by Rev Erskine, with DJ Ganj on the decks.

Responding to a question on whether or not December in Ghana has declined, Bernard Kafui Sokpe, Founder of Jambo Spaces and known in showbiz as Mista Meister, said that from his experience as a creative, December in Ghana has grown rather than slowed.

“December in Gh is still happening even more than before,” he said. “Previously, we had just a few stadium events, but this year we have three or more. Legon never used to give out their stadium, but now they’ve hosted two events already. That alone tells you that things are opening up.”

Mista Meister noted that beyond headline concerts, the entire December ecosystem has expanded significantly. According to him, the festive season activates multiple value chains, from security services and vendors to bars, fashion, and hospitality businesses.

“It’s bigger than just parties,” he explained. “There’s a whole ecosystem around it. A lot more people are benefiting from December activities — it’s just not being amplified properly.”

He argued that the challenge is not a lack of activity but fragmented visibility. “Everything is happening in pockets. If you really want to see what’s going on, you have to check vlogs or platforms like YFM. It doesn’t feel concerted enough for people to see the full picture or get daily updates of what’s happening across the country.”

Another panellist, Ekow Quanzie, Head of PR and Sustainability at Global Media Alliance and known on Facebook as WhyAlwaysEkow, pointed to measurable indicators that show December in Ghana remains strong.

“One of the key touch points is arrivals,” he said. “When you go to the airport, you can clearly see that more people are coming in. In fact, the airport had to open an overflow car park to accommodate the inflows.”

He added that the number and diversity of events have also increased. “Beyond parties and concerts, there are thought leadership events happening as well. December is becoming more dynamic.”

Ekow highlighted initiatives such as Entertainment Week Ghana as important platforms that provide a broader view of December activities, while also stressing the role of public relations and marketing in tourism growth.

“Tourism is about PR and marketing,” he said. “Countries spend heavily to attract tourists. Ghana is fortunate; we have natural sites, a vibrant youth culture, political stability, and global goodwill. Many countries actually seek validation from Ghana and therefore we should captilise on these and do better in amplification”.

Both guests agreed that while private sector players have driven much of December’s success, more intentional coordination, storytelling, and marketing including government support could significantly elevate Ghana’s festive season on the global stage.